News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-05-05
CRUISE OF MONTANA.
A Millionaire King and His Re.
markabIe Marriage-A Western
Reception.

A correspondent writing from Helena
Montana, says: l saw the pale, anxious
face and flowing gray beard of Mon
tana's Bonanza King, Thomas Cruise, as
he sat behind pair of stylish bays, Ell
joying the fresh spring air out in the
valley this morning. They say that the
| old gentleman is not the same since the
death of his wife, a few months ago. It
was a sad ending to the dream which
must have possessed her young mind
only short year ago, as she stood be-
meath an archway of exotic flowers and
went through the tedious monotony of
the wedding reception, which lasted
from $50 in the morning until o'clock
in the evening. I say it must have been
sad ending to dream, for l am told
that the young bride really loved the old
gentleman, and that the affection was
mutual; that they met in some way
through the visits of Cruise to her
brother, Mr.. T. H. Carter, with whom
the millionaire king had business trans
actions, and that Miss Carter admitted
the unobtrusive worth and candor of
the old gentleman, while he i'll turn de-
lighted i'll her sound sense and woman
ly qualities. And SO they were mar
ried.
That was gala day in Helena. The
courts adjourned, many business houses
closed up and everybody took advantage
of the lavish generosity which Cruise had
desired should be extended to all. When
the hour for the wedding ceremony ar
rived the esplanade in front of the
Catholic Hill terrace was crowded with
coaches and carriages, and there was not
n vacant space in the new cathedral
where one might stand to get view of
the rich robes and vestments of the
officiating clergy. 1t is said that during
the ceremony Cruise put check for 3d.
900 into the hands OF Bishop Brondel.
After the wedding the entire party took
cn11inges to the Cosmopolitan Hotel,
and there in the spacious dining-hall,
which was Gayly decked with flowers
and evergreens, the reception took
place.
There have been weddings that were
rich in all that goes to make up fashion
and beauty, notable for the high stand
ing of the contracting parties, and at
which intellect and culture We'd with
each other to see which should do most
honor to the occasion; but there never
was. perhaps, wedding at which the
elite commingled with the proletariat as
they did on this occasion; at which fash
ion beheld the never-ceasing gaze OF
vulQarity, and the splendors OF wealth
and the refinements of culture were i'll
termingled with the rough and un-
chastened element of mountain city.
The reception was indeed an omnium-
gatherum. The mistress and the maid
were there, the formerin silks and satins
and the latter prinked in the height OF
plebeian tinery. Even the polished face
and matted queue of the Chinese mer-
chant prince was there, too, lending the
novelty of his Oriental costume to the
already mosaic-like effect of the dazzling
spectacle.
Wine flowed like water. The bar was
free to whoever choose to ask for drink.
In the cloak-rooms and at every corner
of the apartments set off for the ladies,
were waiting maids who stood IN readl-
ness to obey the behests of the different
guests. In the gentlemen's parlor stood
two dusky seneschals behind great large
decanters, pouring out the water of life
as fast as the thirsty devotees held the
beakers. The tables were loaded with
the choicest viands and dainties and
with the luscious fruit of the coTnuco-
pia. Jardinieres of rare plants, which
we're laden with the perfumed breath OF
the orange-lily and the honeysuck!e,
ranged on either side of the dlnlng-hall,
while the walls were ornamented with
rare and costly bric-a-brac. Coaches
and hacks conveyed the guests free of
charge to and from their homes, and
everything that was necessary to the
comfort and convenience of even the
most inconsiderable was provided. The
expense of the reception alone was SID
600. With the exception of beautiful
reliquary, containing necklace OF mag
nificent diamonds, presented by Cruise
to his bride, the wedding was devoid OF
gifts of any kind, the groom having ex-
pressly stated it was his wish that no
one should, either voluntarily or reluct-
antly, be put to any expense on account
of his nuptials. It was estimated that
5000 people, or three-ffths of the grown
population OF Helena, attended the re-
ception. ooo
Cruse's fortune is rated at 50, ,000,00